Spinning tong



Jan. 24, 1939.- E. 1.. JGALLAGHER SPINNING TONG Filed 'Jan. 5 1938 F N Mame:

- 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N EYS Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES SPINNING TONG Ernest L. Gallagher, Beeville, Tex.

Application January 5,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to spinning tongs for oil well operations such as coupling and uncoupling of well tubes, casings and the like, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which may be easily and quickly adapted to a well tube or casing section for supporting the latter for rotation and including means for the rotation thereof to thread said section onto and oil? of another section, the construction being such that the device may be readily adapted to tubes or casings of different sizes.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating a spinning tong constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l indicates a jaw element having a mouth 2 extending the full length thereof to permit said jaw element to be readily adapted onto a well tube or casing section. Integral with one end of the jaw element is a semi-annular race 3 to rotatably receive a semi-annular collar 4 of a sling 5. The ends of the race are spaced so as not to obstruct the mouth of the jaw. Also the ends of the collar are spaced a suflicient distance apart so as not to obstruct the mouth 2 of the jaw element when the collar is in one of its positions.

Integral with the collar 4 is a substantially V-shaped handle 6 forming a part of the sling 5. The arm portions 1 of the handle vary as to length and are formed on the collar diametrically opposite to each other, the longest arm projecting well beyond the mouth of the jaw element and terminating in an eye 8. Eyes 9 and H! are formed on the handle, the eyes 9 being illustrating the located on the arm portions 1 adjacent their formation on the collar while the eye I!) is located adjacent the connected ends of the arm portions on a piece bridging the same, as best shown in Figure 1. The sling 5 besides including the 1938, Serial No. 183,522

collar 4 and the handle 6, also includes a ring I I having pivoted thereto rods 12 which are in turn pivoted to the eyes 9 and Ill. The ring II is adapted to be connected to a hoisting cable or similar element of a drilling machine. 5

A grooved pulley I3 is integral with the jaw element and has a slot extending inwardly from its periphery to meet with the mouth 2 of the jaw element. The periphery of the pulley is preferably grooved to receive an operating cable 10 or belt of a drilling machine for the purpose of rotating the jaw element.

Reinforcing posts l4 connect the pulley I3 and the race 3 and the latter includes a removable flange-like portion l5 to permit the mounting and l demounting of the collar in the race. A pair of the posts M are located at opposite sides of the mouth of the jaw element and spaced a suflicient distance from the mouth to permit the insertion of a wedge-like element I6 for closing the mouth. The wedge-like element It has a serrated face I! to cooperate with the jaw element in gripping a well tube or casing. A spring pressed plunger I8 acts to urge the wedge-like element into gripping position. It is to be understood that the wedgelike element l6 extends across the mouth of the jaw element thereby confining in the jaw element the well tube or casing, the jaw element and wedge-like element cooperating to firmly grip the well tube or casing so that when the jaw element is rotated by rotation of the pulley the well tube or casing carried thereby will also be rotated for the purpose of threading and unthreading it from another well tube or casing.

The operating medium for the rotation of the pulley (not shown) is guided on the pulley by the eye 8 by passing through the latter and also through an eye [9 carried by an arm 2!! formed on one of the arm portions Tof the handle. In operation, the handle is disposed horizontally and may be easily manipulated by an operator.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character set forth, a sling adapted for connection with a hoisting medium, a jaw element rotatablysupported by said sling and including a mouth for the reception of a device to be gripped, means traversing the mouth and cooperating with the jaw element in gripping said device, a pulley integral with the jaw element to receive a medium for the rotation of the jaw element and having a slot extending inwardly from its periphery to expose a portion of the mouth of the jaw element.

2. A device of the character set forth comprising a jaw element having a mouth extending its 5 full length to permit the insertion of a device in the jaw element, a race carried by the jaw element and cutaway to expose a portion of the mouth, a collar journaled in said race and having a cutaway portion to be brought into alignment with the mouth of the jaw element, a sling connected to said collar, a pulley to receive an operating medium formed on said jaw and having a cutaway portion extending inwardly from its periphery to expose a portion of the mouth of said jaw element, and a wedge-shaped serrated element carried by the jaw element and traversing the mouth thereof cooperating with said jaw element in gripping a device in the jaw element.

3. A device of the character set forth comprising a jaw element having a mouth extending its full length to permit the insertion of a device of the jaw element, a race carried by the jaw element and cutaway to expose a portion of the mouth, a collar journaled in said race and having a cutaway portion to be brought into alignment with the mouth of the jaw element, a sling connected to said collar, a pulley to receive an operating medium formed on said jaw and having a cutaway portion extending inwardly from its periphery to expose a portion of the mouth of said jaw element, a wedge shaped serrated element carried by the jaw element and traversing the mouth thereof cooperating with said jaw element in gripping a device in the jaw element, a spring influenced means acting on the wedge to urge the latter into gripping position.

4. A device of the character set forth comprising a jaw element, means cooperating with the jaw element in gripping the device, a pulley integral with the jaw element to receive an operating means, a collar rotatably connected to the jaw element, a handle integral with the collar and normally disposed horizontally, sling forming elements pivoted on said handle, one portion of said handle being of greater length than another portion of the handle for terminating in an eye adjacent the periphery of the pulley, an arm formed on the handle and terminating in an eye adjacent the periphery of the pulley.

ERNEST L. GALLAGHER. 

